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Do you have a family health history record? Is it just for older adults or is it helpful for all ages?
The National Institutes of Health is encouraging families to create family health histories, written records of a family’s health conditions and diseases. A good record includes medical histories, lifestyle habits and living conditions and environments.
They can reveal health trends in families, identify action steps to reduce the risk of those conditions, and prompt individuals to get specific medical tests.
The histories are useful for members of all ages and takes all ages to complete an accurate record. Ultimately, the goal is to use the family health histories to assist individuals, children and grandchildren to live longer and healthier lives.
Many health conditions run in families. Some of these include arthritis, cancer, depression, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and birth defects.
But genes are only part of the story. Lifestyle habits often are learned or a part of a family’s environment. On Maui, families often dive and surf together. This is an example of a healthy and active lifestyle that contributes to strong bodies and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.
On the other hand, some favorite family recipes are loaded with fat, sugar and salt. If eaten regularly, these foods contribute to a few extra pounds each year. Those extra pounds may eventually lead to diabetes. If these eating or other unhealthy lifestyle habits are passed to younger generations, their health consequences will also reach those younger generations.
Gathering information about lifestyle and medical conditions gives a clearer picture of a family’s health history.
Once you’ve decided that a family health history may be something you want to create, the work begins.
First, interview blood relatives, particularly parents, siblings and children.
Grandparents, aunties and uncles, cousins and half-siblings also are important but are a second priority to parents, siblings and children.
The interviews don’t have to be formal. Some interview questions touch on sensitive topics and may be difficult for people to discuss, so it may take some creativity to gather the information. Consider introducing the topic and then setting up a time to discuss it later or weave some of the questions while talking story.
Be prepared to explain why you want this information so the questions don’t feel intrusive or disrespectful.
If family isn’t available to meet in person because of distance, consider talking by phone or online, by email or by regular mail.
Consider using some of these interview questions:
* What is your age and your birthdate?
* What are your ethnicities and what countries did your family live before the U.S.? (This is important because some chronic health conditions are more common in certain ethnicities.)
* What ongoing health challenges do you currently experience?
* Have you ever had any other serious illnesses?
* When did you begin experiencing these health challenges?
* What kind of serious or chronic illnesses have your family members experienced?
* Have you (or your partner) had any pregnancy or childbirth related problems?
* Do you know of any members of your family who had birth defects, learning challenges or other genetic conditions?
* How old were your grandparents (parents, or great- grandparents) when they passed away?
* What caused their deaths?
Next, put together the information in a useable format.
The U.S. Surgeon General offers a free, downloadable form at www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/portrait/portraiteng.pdf. Make and distribute several copies for your own records, family members, and health care professionals.
This article is just a family health history primer. Visit the NIH Senior Health website at nihseniorhealth.gov/creatingafamilyhealthhistory/whycreateafamilyhealthhistory/01.html for more detailed information.
* Heather Greenwood Junkermeier is with the University of Hawaii Manoa Cooperative Extension, Maui Intergenerational and Aging Programs. Aging Matters will cover topics of interest to the aging Maui community and will appear on the third Sunday of each month.